MHC launches its Farm Stewardship Committee to promote quality land management for healthy horses and a healthy horses and a healthy environment in Maryland through identifying resources for horse farms and achieving recognition for sound environmental practices.

2010

MHC launches the Business Network for Business and Farm members.

MHC launches the Save the Horse Farms Campaign, which has inspired several zoning-related victories in counties throughout the state.

2004

MHC relaunches independent newsletter, but maintains Update in The Equiery.

MHC sponsors and organizes two day-long seminars, one for owners of horse businesses in Maryland and the others for those running nonprofit associations and clubs in Maryland; over 200 people attend.

MHC launches task force for the creation of an Equine Health Advisory Committee within the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Horse Industry Board.

MHC advises and sponsors MHIB’s Maryland Horse Industry Forum.

2003

MHC partners with MHIB for creation of brochure: "What the Horse Industry means to Maryland."

MHC instrumental in defeating bill that would tax lesson stables.

MHC advises on changing nutrient management regulations: rather than applying to properties with 4 horses, instead only applying properties with 8 or more horses.

MHC organizes first open-industry, all equine discipline forum on slots.

2002

USDA/MDA conducts the first ever equine census in Maryland.

MHC marshals equestrian community dialogue and position on issues of horses as livestock and the issue of horse slaughter. At the request of the American Horse Council, which sought feedback from state horse councils on how to formulate a national position on federal legislation, and in light of a white paper by the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the Maryland Horse Council, following six months of deliberation, voted on August 4, 2002 to endorse the legal status of horses as livestock (this was a unanimous vote), to oppose legislation to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption and to oppose legislation that would ban the transportation of horses to slaughter (this was a majority vote, with two abstentions and no opposition), and to support education efforts for the care and welfare of horses, to support efforts that govern the enforcement of current or future regulations ensuring the humane transportation of horses for slaughter, and to support the development of an infrastructure for end of life options for horses (this was a unanimous vote). These votes were taken in the context of then-pending proposals to ban slaughter, which contained numerous problems such as unfunded mandates to impound horses and consign them to existing rescues without financial support, and no programs or provisions to address the problem of abused, neglected and unwanted horses. The AAEP White Paper warned against unforeseen consequences of ending slaughter options in the US without providing alternatives.

MHC serves on selection committee for the hiring of an Executive Director for MHIB.

1996

MHC releases brochure on "Insurance, Litigation, Liability Reform and the Effect on the Maryland Horse Industry."

Horses recognized by Maryland Department of Agriculture as an "alternative form of agriculture."

MHC releases the "Minimum Standards of Care," an equine industry-wide interpretations of Maryland Annotated Code as it applies to the care of equines; brochure becomes the court standard and is used as a template in other states.